20 Best foods to lower cholesterol

Here's a good article that cites good food that can help lower cholesterol.  Most of them are available in our local grocery stores or public market.  This might be a good time to plan your menu for the week.  Read on:

High cholesterol is a big threat to healthy living. Hence, if you are diagnosed with high cholesterol, it is imperitive to change your eating habits, in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

As with other lifestyle-related diseases, certain foods are good and bad for people with high cholesterol. Today, we bring you some foods that can actually lower down your cholesterol level. Mrs. Eileen Canday - Chief Dietician at Breach Candy Hospital, gives us a list of the 20 best foods to lower cholesterol.

Almonds 

Opt for a fistful of almonds as a daily snack, when diagnosed with high cholesterol.

Almonds are filled with vitamin E and flavonoids, which help cut bad cholesterol by almost 10 percent and also decreases the development of artery blockage.

Oats 

Oats contain soluble fibre called beta-glucan, which helps in lowering your body's ability to absorb cholesterol.

Hence, eat oats daily for breakfast, to lower your cholesterol level and stay healthy.

Avocados 

Avocados have cholesterol-lowering properties because they contain beta-sitosterol, which can lower cholesterol levels by nearly 15 percent.

Olive oil 

Use extra-virgin oil for cooking, instead of normal cooking oil.

Olive oil is a good heart-healthy choice, because it contains antioxidants and polyunsaturated fats that can lower bad levels of cholesterol.

Omega-3 fatty acids 

Include fishes like mackerel, salmon and tuna at least twice in a week.

Fishes that are rich in omega-3 can lower cholesterol levels and aid in boosting good cholesterol. For vegetarians, choose foods like flaxseeds and rajma.

Beans and lentils 

Again beans and lentils are a good source of soluble fibre, which aids in lowering cholesterol levels.

They are also high in protein and low in fat, which is a complete package for healthy hearts.

Soybean 

The protein present in soybean protects against various heart ailments. Soybean helps in lowering bad cholesterol and simultaneously increases good cholesterol.

Eggplants and okra 

These two vegetables are great agents for lowering cholesterol, because they are good sources of soluble fibre. But avoid frying these, as that would diminish their nutritional properties.

Garlic 

Garlic helps lower cholesterol and fights plaque that clogs your arteries.

Eat not more than 3-4 garlic cloves each day, to obtain maximum heart benefits.

Tomatoes 

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, vitamin C, potassium and fibre, which help in cutting cholesterol levels.

Prefer eating tomatoes which are cooked or sun-dried tomatoes.

Green tea 

Results may vary from individual to individual, but some studies suggest that drinking green tea early in the morning may fight high cholesterol.

Blueberries 

Compounds present in blueberries are good for your heart. Eating blueberries regularly can sharpen your mind as well as lower bad cholesterol level.

Apples 

Apples contain soluble fiber called pectin, which helps in lowering bad cholesterol.

Carrots 

Raw carrots contain pectin, which helps in lowering cholesterol levels. Besides, carrots are also good for your eyes and skin.

Barley 

Barley has unique health promoting properties, especially for heart health.

Like oats, barley too contains beta-glucan, which helps in lowering cholesterol and prevents artery blockage.

Red wine 

We all know about red wine's health benefits. Consuming red wine helps heart health as well.

The fibre called tempranillo, found in red wine, is great in lowering cholesterol.

Plant sterol 

Consuming fortified foods like orange juice and yoghurt, which have high levels of plant compounds, is good for heart health.

They help prevent cholesterol absorption and lower the level of cholesterol.

Dark chocolate 

Eating dark chocolate is very beneficial for your health. It helps lower cholesterol levels by almost 10 percent.

Sesame seeds 

Sesame seeds are rich in a fibre called phytosterols. This fibre helps in preventing artery blockages and lowers cholesterol levels.

Spinach 

Besides spinach being Popeye's secret for quick power, it is also good for cardiovascular health.

Green leafy vegetables like spinach contain lutein, which helps guard against blockages in arteries and lowers cholesterol.

more from here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/diet/20-Best-foods-to-lower-cholesterol/articleshow/16924867.cms

Cholesterol Myth: What Really Causes Heart Disease?

Take a look at this article about myths on high cholesterol.  It's worth reading as we're assuming that most fatal heart diseases were caused by this condition that's why our doctors seemed to over prescribe statins.  One takeaway from this reading is a cheaper alternative in staying healthy by just having a good and happy disposition in life.  Read on:


In the fight for better health, Americans view cholesterol as Public Enemy No. 1. Doctors tell us to stay away from food high in saturated fat, like butter, eggs and meat because it's responsible for heart disease.

But what if that's wrong?

Dr. Stephen Sinatra, a cardiologist who's been practicing for over 30 years and the author of The Great Cholesterol Myth, thinks it's wrong.

Cholesterol Not the Perpetrator

"You know cholesterol is found at the scene of the crime for heart disease, but it's not the perpetrator," he contends.

Get CBN's free fact sheet on cholestorol.

Sinatra explained that since half of all patients hospitalized for heart disease have high cholesterol, that means the other half do not.

He had a similar experience in his own practice, which helped him realize high cholesterol didn't cause heart disease.

"I was doing angiograms on people with 150, who had far advanced heart disease," he recalled. "And the converse, I was doing angiograms on somebody with cholesterol of 280 and they had no heart disease."

Deadly Inflammation

If cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease, what does? Sinatra is among a growing number of physicians who point the finger at inflammation, which is caused by a number of things. Eating too much sugar is at the top of the list.

Sinatra admits a small percentage of LDL cholesterol is bad because it's inflammatory. But he said, for the most part, it's good for you.

"Cholesterol many times can be a gift in disguise," he said. "Higher cholesterol."

Unlike Sinatra, most physicians blame cholesterol for causing heart disease. They prescribe cholesterol-lowering statin drugs to their patients with high cholesterol.

But Sinatra said he believes only a very small percentage of people who are taking statins actually need them. For example, he usually only prescribes statins to middle-aged men who have coronary heart disease.

He also said a small number of women need statins but mostly benefit from the statin's anti-inflammatory properties, not its ability to lower cholesterol.

On the other hand, by and large, Sinatra believes statins are far too over-prescribed. Although drug companies sell $30 billion worth of statins every year, Sinatra said the people who take them are paying a price with their health as well as their wallet.

Statin Risks

In other words, for many statin users, the risks outweigh the gains.

"The side effects of statins are grossly under-reported," he said.

Muscle pain and fatigue are two of the key complaints he hears from statin users.

"'Doc, I can't get out of a chair. I have weakness in my thighs. I can't play doubles tennis. I walk the dog and I'm virtually exhausted,'" he said he's heard from many patients.

Sinatra said the reason for these symptoms is often misdiagnosed.

"These are statin side-effects," he concluded. "However, a lot of the doctors and patients think they're getting older. They're not getting older, these are statin side effects."

Patients over 70 years old are especially vulnerable.

"They can't remember names. They can't remember where they put their glasses or keys. They forget sometimes who they are," Sinatra explained.

"It can actually bring on the onset of Alzheimer's Disease by 15 years. So you have to be cautious with statins," he advised.

Villainous Sugar

Sinatra said one of the best things about statins are their ability to reduce inflammation. But since statins have so many side-effects, most people are better off ditching the statin and reducing inflammation the natural way, by reducing the amount of sugar they eat.

"Cholesterol is sort of your friend. Sugar is your foe. It's the villain. It's your enemy," he said.

Sugar damages arteries, increases blood pressure, and ages your organs.

Of course people know sugar is the white, granular stuff many put in their coffee. But sugar comes in many other forms.

For example, high fructose corn syrup is a sugar. It is the primary ingredient in soda and candy and is found in the list of ingredients in a huge number of other products, many that most people probably don't even consider a "sweet," such as bread or pasta sauce.

Many other syrups and ingredients that end in "ose" are also sugars. So read the list of ingredients to identify whether a product contains a sugar.

Do not pay attention to the labels. Food manufacturers have discovered legal loop-holes so they can deceive consumers by advertising on the label that their product is healthy when it is not. Read the list of ingredients.

In addition to avoiding foods that contain a sugar, reducing inflammation also involves avoiding foods that turn into sugar once you eat them.

These are called refined carbohydrates and are basically grains that have been stripped of the healthiest part, leaving only the starchy part of the grain.

Refined carbohydrates are the "white" foods, such as white bread, white bagels, white hot dog or hamburger buns, white pasta, white rice, white tortillas, and so forth.

Saturated Fats Okay

In place of all that sugar, Sinatra advises replacing it with vegetables and fats. He also highly recommends eating unsaturated fats such as nuts, avocados, fish, and olive oil.

He touts saturated fats like butter, unprocessed meat (the kind you get in the meat department, not the deli) and one of his favorites: coconut oil.

"I love coconut oil," he said. "Coconut oil is a saturated fat. Because it's a saturated fat, it's less prone to oxidation. So it protects you."

He encourages people to put aside their fears that saturated fats cause heart disease. Although they may raise your cholesterol, he believes that that will not hurt you. In fact, it will probably improve your health.

However, it is very important not to confuse unsaturated fats or saturated fats with trans fats. Although doctors may disagree about whether you should eat saturated fats, no doctor will ever tell you it's safe to eat trans fats. You should avoid them like the plague.

"I call trans fats unguided missiles that really cause enormous inflammation in the blood vessels," Sinatra said.

Trans Fats = Plastic?

Trans fats are man-made fats and are, sadly, in most processed foods. That means most of the foods in packages contain trans fats.

You can check to see whether a product contains a trans fat by checking the list of ingredients.

Again, do not pay attention to the labels. Food manufacturers have discovered legal loop-holes so that they can advertise on the front of a package that an item "contains no trans fats" when it actually does.

So look at the list of ingredients for a hydrogenated oil. That's a trans fat. Like the name suggests, a trans fat is an oil that has been infused with hydrogen. Food manufacturers discovered that by creating trans fats and adding them to food, it prolongs a product's shelf life.

Therefore, a good indication a food contains a trans fat is whether it lasts for months, such as many crackers and packaged baked goods.

Unfortunately, trans fats are molecularly similar to plastic! As such, it's not difficult to believe that they wreak havoc on your body, especially your heart.

Don't Worrry!

Aside from avoiding sugar and trans fats, another way to reduce inflammation is to avoid stress. Stress is just another term for fear, or worry.

Remember, reducing stress is not about eliminating the source of stress, such as traffic jams, difficult teenagers, and financial problems. That will never happen as long as we are living in this fallen world.

Reducing stress is about how we respond to such things. The Bible addresses this topic many times. In it, God commands (not suggests!) us not to worry.  He tells us not to fear and to trust Him, to cast our burdens on Him because he cares for us.

That is not only good spiritual advice but good medical advice, as well.

When we fear, we secrete two hormones called adrenaline and cortizol. God designed us to secrete these hormones infrequently and for short spurts of time. That's because when adrenaline and cortizol are being secreted, other cells cease their normal functions.

Fear's Destructive Power

A good example of this is when a man is walking in the woods and a wild animal jumps out at him. The man feels fear. Adrenaline and cortizol are secreted.  All the cells in his body stop their normal functions and work in perfect unison toward one goal: in this case, running like the wind.

The hormones cause him to run super-humanly fast and escape the pursuing animal. This whole process takes only a matter of minutes. After that, the man no longer feels fear and he stops secreting adrenaline and cortizol and his cells can go back to their normal jobs of keeping him healthy.

A modern example would be the mother who sees her little girl is trapped under the car. She feels fear. Adrenaline and cortizol are secreted and all her cells stop their normal activity and are re-programmed for a singular goal: super-human strength.

She is thus able to lift the car and free her daughter. This takes only a matter of minutes. After that, she stops feeling fear and her body functions go back to doing what they are supposed to do.

Those are examples of real fear, and the proper use of adrenaline and cortizol. Stress, on the other hand, is a perpetual state of fear.

We fear being late for work, getting fired. We fear our spouses leaving us. We fear being rejected by our peers, not "fitting-in," going broke, or getting sick. The list goes on.

When we constantly feel these false fears, our bodies secrete a steady drip, drip, drip of adrenaline and cortizol and our cells don't operate the way in which they were designed. They are too caught up with fear and the result is a break-down of our healthy bodily systems.

So if you've been praying for good health, take to heart these three things:  stop eating sugars, stop eating trans fats, and stop worrying.

more from here: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2012/October/Cholesterol-Myth-What-Really-Causes-Heart-Disease/

Reliv Announces Breakthrough in Fight Against Metabolic Syndrome

For those who have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high blood sugar and low levels of good cholesterol, you may have a metabolic syndrome.  But here's a good news on a breakthrough medicine created by RELV.  Read on:


Cutting-Edge Ingredient Incorporated Into Clinically Proven Product


CHESTERFIELD, Mo., June 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Reliv International (RELV) has incorporated a breakthrough ingredient into its patented, clinically proven GlucAffect® formula.

The addition of LunaRich comes less than a month after the CDC published findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicating metabolic syndrome continues to rise among Americans.

Fighting an EpidemicMetabolic syndrome -- a cluster of symptoms including high blood sugar, obesity and cardiovascular problems -- has reached epidemic proportions. According to the American Heart Association, 47 million Americans now have metabolic syndrome. The syndrome afflicts 40 percent of people in their sixties and seventies. That number is expected to rise along with our aging population. The CDC also predicts that one-third of Americans will have diabetes if current trends continue.

In addition, a recent CDC study published in Pediatrics shows the epidemic isn't limited to older adults. Obesity in teens has skyrocketed in the past decade -- 23 percent of teens are now classified as diabetic or prediabetic.

A person with metabolic syndrome is twice as likely to develop heart disease and five times more likely to develop diabetes. Other silent symptoms include eye, kidney and nervous system damage over time. Metabolic syndrome typically includes three or more symptoms:

waistline of 40+ inches for men or 35+ inches for women

high blood pressure, or on blood pressure medication

high triglycerides

high blood sugar or type 2 diabetes

low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol

Balancing Blood SugarThe solution for metabolic syndrome lies in a three-pronged approach of balancing blood sugar, losing weight and improving cholesterol.

Blood sugar management and weight loss go hand-in-hand. Blood sugar levels can effect hunger feelings and energy levels. When blood sugar and insulin levels drop too low, we feel hungry. Weight loss is easier if blood sugar is continuously balanced.

Research shows that cutting-edge ingredients such as Pycnogenol®, banaba leaf and cinnamon have significant blood sugar management properties.

"GlucAffect's unique formula addresses multiple factors of metabolic syndrome at once," said Dr. Carl Hastings, chief scientific officer. "And the increased levels of lunasin in LunaRich soy powder have given GlucAffect an even greater edge in the fight against metabolic syndrome."

Beating Cholesterol at the SourceMost cholesterol is produced in the liver by the HMG-CoA reductase gene. Statin drugs work by blocking HMG-CoA, but they can often block too much. This leads to serious side effects because our body needs a minimum level of cholesterol for proper cellular function.

On the other hand, a naturally occurring soy peptide called lunasin targets cholesterol at an earlier stage, reducing the HMG-CoA without blocking it entirely. LunaRich soy powder harnesses the power of the lunasin peptide to balance cholesterol.

"A growing body of research shows that the lunasin peptide is one of the most important bioactive components of soy," said Dr. Alfredo Galvez, the scientist who first discovered lunasin. "Lunasin demonstrates superior support for cardiovascular health and exhibits significant anti-inflammatory properties. In developing LunaRich for Reliv, we have maximized lunasin levels in soy."

About Reliv International, Inc.Reliv International, Inc., based in Chesterfield, Mo., produces nutritional supplements that promote optimal nutrition along with premium skincare products. Reliv supplements address essential nutrition, weight loss, athletic performance, digestive health, women's health, anti-aging and healthy energy. The company sells its products through an international network marketing system of independent distributors in 15 countries. Learn more about Reliv at www.reliv.com , or on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


more from here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/reliv-announces-breakthrough-in-fight-against-metabolic-syndrome-2012-06-02

Obesity fight is an obligation

Take a look at this article citing all the negative effects of obesity.  Read on and help support eliminating obesity:

By Damon Tweedy
Henry had a problem: The medicine that calmed his mind was hurting his body. A middle-aged man with bipolar disorder, Henry had tried several medications before he became my patient. The only one that stabilized his mood made him crave fattening foods so intensely that after three years on the drug, he’d gained 50 pounds.

With this excess weight came diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol — and with them, more drugs to take. I urged Henry to keep his weight under control, but he kept gaining. Frustrated, I decided to let his primary care physician decide how to help him. After all, his mental health was in good shape. Ultimately, his weight wasn’t really my concern.

Today, no doctor can afford to think that way. Between 1980-2000, the percentage of obese Americans more than doubled; in children and adolescents, it tripled. The rate of increase has slowed since 2000, but the numbers are still rising. At this pace, 42 percent of American adults will be obese by 2030, costing our country an estimated $25 billion annually.

Doctors often don’t know what to do with obese patients. Just like them, we become impatient, frustrated and, at times, disgusted. Surgeons curse higher complication rates and sometimes refuse to operate, while medical specialists bemoan rising rates of weight-related chronic conditions.

In psychiatry, many have accepted obesity as collateral damage; some of our best medications can cause substantial weight gain. Often removed from day-to-day general medicine, we’re tempted to punt responsibility to the primary care physician, as I did. Even those of us concerned with our patient’s expanding waistlines must acknowledge that compared with the psychotic delusions of schizophrenia or bipolar mania, it’s better to be fat. Establishing mental stability while maintaining a healthy weight often seems incompatible.

Or at least that’s what I thought until Henry showed me otherwise. Just when I’d decided to stop nagging him about his weight, he showed up 10 pounds lighter. At first, I worried that he might have cancer or some other medical problem. Instead, his simple explanation was, “I finally started listening to you. I’m changing my eating pattern and walking each day.”

Three years later, he’d dropped 55 pounds, all while taking his bipolar medication. He no longer needed diabetes or blood pressure pills.

Henry had reminded me how important simple doctor-patient interaction can be. While the tide of obesity exceeds the power of any individual physician to defeat, all of us on the medical front lines need to engage in this fierce battle. Sadly, that is not happening. According to a 2011 study, nearly one-third of obese patients had never been told by a doctor that they were overweight. Some doctors think it’s a waste of their time. Others complain their efforts won’t pay enough.

But these excuses are unacceptable. We have a responsibility never to quit. Talking and persistence are sometimes the most powerful medicines for both doctor and patient.

Damon Tweedy, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, is a staff psychiatrist at the Durham VA Medical Center.

more from here: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/obesity-fight-is-an-1450890.html

5 ways fibre can save your life

For those wanting to lower their cholesterol, here's a good article that I found on using fibre to control your weight and cholesterol.  Read on:

EATING more fibre is an easy way to fight off several deadly diseases.


1. Fibre lowers cholesterol

High cholesterol levels can lead to clogged arteries and a greater risk of heart disease, which kills more than 46,000 Australians a year. Thankfully, fibre can help.

"Beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre, binds to bile acids in your small intestines," Orla Hugueniot, a nutritionist with Nutrition Australia, says. "Bile acids normally carry LDL, the bad kind of cholesterol, into your body. Beta-glucan helps the acids excrete, rather than re-entering the body."

Oats and barley are rich in beta-glucan. "Increase this type of fibre and you’ll quickly see an effect. Just how quickly depends on whether you’re on cholesterol-lowering medication, and how much saturated fat you’re having in your diet," Hugueniot says.

2. Fibre helps you lose weight

Being overweight or obese dramatically increases your risk of a range of life-threatening diseases, from cancer to heart disease and diabetes.

"Fibre helps with weight loss because high-fibre foods keep you fuller for longer," Hugueniot says. "You’re less likely to eat energy-dense or fatty foods."

Switching to high-fibre foods is also a simple way to modify your diet without having to count calories.

3. Fibre prevents and manages diabetes

All types of fibre help those with diabetes (types 1 and 2) and pre-diabetes, Hugueniot says.

"Soluble fibre slows down absorption of carbohydrates in the stomach, which helps regulate blood-sugar levels, a fundamental part of preventing and managing diabetes."

Soluble fibre’s effect on cholesterol is also useful for diabetics, as they often have higher LDL levels than non-diabetics. Insoluble fibre is also associated with controlling diabetes, but we don’t know exactly why yet, Hugueniot says.

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, diabetes contributes to almost 15,000 deaths in Australia a year. Diabetes can result in heart disease, circulatory problems and other health complications.

4. Fibre prevents colon cancer

"Fibre increases the levels of the friendly bowel bacteria butyrate, which plays a role in preventing colon cancer," Hugueniot says. "Fibre also dilutes carcinogens and other harmful substances in our gut, and pushes them out of our body quicker, reducing our colon’s exposure to them."
Fibre-rich foods also tend to be high in antioxidants, which give general protection against cancer.

5. Fibre relieves constipation

This isn’t a life-threatening condition, but any sufferer will tell you it affects your quality of life significantly. It can also lead to more painful conditions such as haemorrhoids and diverticulitis, Hugueniot says.

"It all comes back to digestion. If you have enough fibre in your diet, you’ll have better overall digestive health."

All types of fibre help – soluble fibre softens the stool, while insoluble fibre adds bulk. Both make bowel movements easier and more regular.

** How to get your daily fibre
National guidelines recommend adult women have at least 25 grams a day and men at least 30 grams, but most of us only manage between 18 and 25 grams of fibre a day. A balanced diet that includes wholegrains, nuts and seeds, beans, fruit and vegies will ensure you get a balanced intake of both soluble and insoluble fibre and valuable vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

1/2 cup raw mixed-grain muesli with nuts and dried fruit         6g

1 medium pear, unpeeled                          4g

3 chopped prunes                             2g

350ml minestrone soup with vegies and beans             9g

1 thick slice soy and linseed bread                    2.5g

1 red apple, unpeeled                            3g

1/2 cup brown rice                            1.5g

Stir-fried chicken, carrot, snowpeas and broccoli             6g

TOTAL                                 34g


-- Soluble vs insoluble fibre

Soluble fibre, which helps with cholesterol and constipation, is found in foods such as oats, barley, rye, fruit, vegetables, psyllium and lentils. Insoluble fibre provides bulk to the stool and is found in the bran of foods including wheat, corn and rice, the skins of fruit and vegetables, and in nuts and seeds. Most fibre-rich foods contain both types, so you don’t need to worry too much about seeking one type out.

more from here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/ways-fibre-can-save-your-life/story-fn6ja7bc-1226379659925

Study: Cholesterol Could Aid in Fight against Cancers Like Mesothelioma

Mesotholemia???  Wikipedia says "(more precisely, malignant mesothelioma) is a rare form of cancer that develops from transformed cells originating in the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.[1]
The most common anatomy site for the development of mesothelioma is the pleura (the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it can also arise in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), and the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart),[2] or the tunica vaginalis (a sac that surrounds the testis). "

More research are now being done to link cholesterol as a fighting agent for cancer.  Read on:


Cholesterol normally carries a negative connotation, a necessary evil in cells and a major cause of heart disease, creating a billion dollar industry of specialization and pharmaceutical products to combat the problem.

But now scientists are discovering another side of cholesterol, as a possible way to help fight difficult cancers like mesothelioma. It could lead to much-needed novel treatments, particularly for mesothelioma, which has no cure and usually comes with a poor prognosis.

Christopher Beh, an associate professor in the Biochemistry Department at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, has specialized in studying cholesterol in his laboratory, hoping to better understand its impact on cell growth and human health.

He and three other scientists concluded recently that cholesterol, when manipulated, can slow or stop the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells.

The study was published recently in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

According to a news release from Simon Fraser University, the scientists originally were trying to understand how cholesterol moves around inside individual cells and reinforces their outer membranes.

The most recent study uncovered a surprising mechanism in which a specific class of cholesterol-binding proteins (ORPs) determined the direction and shape of cells that were defective in metastasizing cancers.

The researchers discovered that after genetic changes were made to the ORPs, they no longer binded to the cholesterol but continued to function and move around the cells. The altered ORPs also sparked other proteins that led to cell growth.

“First, cancer cells require ORPs to survive,” Beh said. “Second, other scientists have previously shown that a new class of natural components that look like steroids or cholesterol can kill a broad spectrum of different cancer cells.”

Beh said the next step for his team will be to determine exactly which proteins will respond to ORP activation and exactly what circumstances does cholesterol turn off ORP’s activation of them.

“Given that uncontrolled cell growth is a key feature in cancer, this means gaining a better understanding  of the true purpose of cholesterol binding within cells, could be important in cancer treatment,” Beh said.

Mesothelioma is relevant to his research because it has been resistant to many traditional therapies that are unable to stop the growth of tumors. Mesothelioma, which is caused almost exclusively from an exposure to asbestos fibers, often is not diagnosed until it already has spread through the thin lining surrounding the lungs or heart.

It is diagnosed in an estimated 3,000 patients annually.

If you or anyone you know has mesothelioma, or just want to learn more, you can fill out the form on this page to receive a free packet of information about this very complex cancer.


more from here: http://www.asbestos.com/news/2012/05/15/study-suggests-cholesterol-could-aid-in-the-fight-against-cancers-like-mesothelioma/

Cholesterol may fight cancer, researchers say

Take a look at this article, hopefully after some time more and more research can be done about this.  Having high cholesterol may not be so bad after all if this is true ;)  Read on:


Could it be that the cookie you've been craving may not be all that bad for you?

A Simon Fraser University researcher is among four scientists who argue that cholesterol may slow or stop cancer cell growth in a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in February.

Chris Beh, associate professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at SFU, led a team of researchers who were studying how cholesterol moves around inside cells in the fat's journey to cell surfaces where it reinforces their outer membrane.

Researchers said cholesterol-binding proteins called ORPs (oxysterol-binding proteins) may control cell growth.

In general, ORPs have been assumed to bind and transport cholesterol inside cells.

Yet the study's results suggest that ORPs ``probably have nothing to do with moving around cholesterol within cells,'' Beh said in a statement.

Instead, Beh said they observed that the cholesterol-binding had put the brakes on ORPs' ability to bind to another lipid or fat called PI4P which, if left unchecked, could accelerate cell growth ``like crazy.''

``Given that uncontrolled cell growth is a key feature of cancer, this means gaining a better understanding of the true purpose of cholesterol-binding within cells could be important in cancer treatment,'' he said.

In the study, scientists found that the genetic changes they engineered blocked the ability of ORPs to bind cholesterol, but didn't block the ORPs from functioning.

Instead, they found that these altered ORPs worked better and activated other regulator proteins.

``Understanding the functional roles of ORPs has taken on a new imperative with the recent discovery that human ORPs are specific targets of ORP philins, a diverse group of nanomolar inhibitors that prevent cancer cell growth,'' the study concluded.

Researchers said they will work to identify the proteins that respond to ORP activation and the circumstances when cholesterol turns off ORPs' activation of these proteins.


more from here: http://www.canada.com/Cholesterol+fight+cancer+researchers/6488300/story.html

FDA correctly identifies risks from statins

Got across this disturbing article about statins.  For those taking Lipitor or Crestor, take a look at this article about their side effects:

What does a knee surgeon know about statins' side effects? Plenty, after seeing scores of patients improve their memory, strength, vigor and sex drive after stopping these popular drugs.

Statins — known by brand names such as Lipitor and Crestor — are prescribed to lower cholesterol. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently decided to require that statin labels include warnings about the rare but serious risk of liver damage, memory loss and confusion, and Type 2 diabetes. Certain statins — known by the generic, lovastatin — can also raise the risk of muscle weakness, which I've seen in my patients.

Many of them provide a list of their medicines that commonly hit double digits. One medicine that seems to appear on that list of most every patient older than 45 is a statin. Most patients tell me they experience joint or muscle pain, but few are aware that statins' side effect may be one reason for their symptoms.


Many believe lowering cholesterol will decrease their risk of heart attack and stroke, and allow them to live longer. But nothing could be further from the truth for most people. Patients frequently experience side effects and have simply been switched to another drug in the same category. Very few told me they were informed of the true absolute benefit or given other lifestyle options as a first line of treatment.

Additionally, when follow-up blood work shows decreasing cholesterol levels, rarely are statins discontinued or decreased. The usual recommendation is to continue statins for the rest of their lives, which amounts to an annuity for the drugmakers.

A recent Cochrane Review of many studies confirmed 1,000 people without heart disease had to be treated with statins to prevent one death. Therefore 999 people, paying $5 per pill, are not going to live one day longer, but they will enrich the pharmaceutical industry's coffers and are at risk for the many real side effects of stopping production of cholesterol — a wonderful molecule responsible for healthy cell membranes, sex hormones, nerve conduction and brain function, all of which contribute to life as we know it today.

Statins are not a miracle drug like penicillin, insulin or vaccines that truly altered mankind; statins are simply the most prescribed drug in the history of medicine and the most profitable, with annual revenues of $26 billion. Profits are so lucrative to "big pharma" that drug manufacturers have influenced most medical organizations and respected high-profile physicians to continue to look for every opportunity to exaggerate any new study that validates prescribing the highest dose of statins to an increasing patient population under the false assumption that it will improve their quality of life.

Any physician who would publicly state that the absolute benefit is more 1 percent to 2 percent to only a small percentage of people would face an insurmountable fight from the monumental propaganda machine financed with billions in drug profits, much of which come from taxpayers through guaranteed Medicare pharmaceutical benefits negotiated by big pharma to support Obama's health care law.

Make no mistake: Statins have real benefits, but only for a limited group of people, mostly men with documented heart disease and with only a small benefit. Most healthy people and all women without a history of heart disease will not live one day longer if they took statins daily for 30 years.

Ironically statins' true benefit has more to do with other, less lucrative and marketable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects than its cholesterol-lowering effect. And statins are a very expensive way to gain an anti-inflammatory effect, when a similar benefit could be garnered with aspirin, a healthy lifestyle, an anti-inflammatory diet, fish oil, Vitamin B and other natural products.

A final dirty little secret is statins' depletion of Co-Q 10, a vitamin-like substance in our cells important for energy production. Less Co-Q 10 is the main culprit behind muscle aches and pains and even weakening of the heart pump in patients with heart failure. How ironic those patients with congestive heart failure are given a medication that can make them worse.

How many patients on statins are given advice to take Co-Q 10 by their prescribing physicians? Sadly, very few in my experience. Similarly, many diabetics with neuropathy are made worse with statins.

The FDA was correct in identifying a risk that many were aware of for decades; in my opinion and experience, side effects' numbers far exceed those reported to the FDA, since hundreds of my patients over the years complained of fatigue, memory difficulties and weakness.

They were just relieved to have an improved quality of life once they decided to give up statins — against the advice of their prescribing physician.

More from here: http://www.mcall.com/opinion/yourview/mc-statin-side-effects-meade-yv--20120310,0,3367573.story

Merck fails to get FDA nod for new cholesterol lowering combo pill

For those using maintenance medication for their cholesterol, hope this drug can be approved soon.  Take a look at this news article by Dr Ananya Mandal, MD:


The U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) have rejected Merck & Co.'s new combination cholesterol drug, at least for now.

The length of delay in approval is not clear yet as the FDA has called for additional study data on the compound. It combines generic Lipitor (Atorvastatin), the top-selling drug of all time, with Merck's cholesterol medicine Zetia (Ezetimibe).

The experimental drug, still known only as MK-0653C, contains medicines that fight high cholesterol in two different ways to reduce risk of heart attack and stroke. Lipitor, known chemically as atorvastatin, is part of the widely used class of drugs called statins that reduce the amount of cholesterol naturally produced in the liver. Zetia or Ezetimibe, on the other hand, reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed from the food the patient eats. Vytorin includes Zetia and an older statin, Merck's Zocor, also called simvastatin.

Sales of Vytorin and Zetia both were hurt when Merck in early 2008 finally released unfavorable results from a study. The study showed that Vytorin was no better at reducing plaque build-up in neck arteries than just Zocor, which had been available as a cheap generic since 2006. Zetia is protected by patent in the U.S. until 2017.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a so-called Complete Response Letter for the pill, asking Merck to submit more data. It was unclear what data would be required. Merck said Monday that company officials will talk with the FDA to determine the next steps, adding that some new data expected later this year may address the FDA's concerns.

Merck spokeswoman Pamela Eisele said that the FDA did not ask for any information about the ongoing study, called IMPROVE-IT, to test whether Vytorin lowers heart attack risk compared to Zocor. Instead, Merck’s statement appears to be referring to two ongoing studies of Lipitor and Zetia taken as single pills and the new combination pill Merck is testing.

More from here: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120305/Merck-fails-to-get-FDA-nod-for-new-cholesterol-lowering-combo-pill.aspx

New Research Suggests Walnuts May Help Fight Prostate Cancer

Take a look at this surprising research on walnuts.  Not only do they help lower bad cholesterol, they might also be helpful in avoiding and slowing cancer growth.  Read on:

FOLSOM, Calif., Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Prostate cancer is a major health concern for men that strikes approximately one in six men and is a leading cause of male cancer deaths in the United States(1). New research offers hope in this fight - according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition, walnuts may help reduce prostate cancer risk. Researchers at the University of California - Davis and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Western Regional Research Center in Albany, California found that prostate tumors in mice fed the human equivalent of three ounces per day of walnuts were approximately 50% smaller and grew 30% slower than prostate tumors in control mice. In addition to lower plasma Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a biomarker strongly associated with prostate cancer, walnut fed mice had lower LDL (bad) cholesterol as well as distinct differences in their liver metabolome, a chemical inventory of what the liver - a major source of both IGF-1 and cholesterol - is doing.

"These results make me very hopeful that walnuts may be beneficial both in terms of avoiding cancer and slowing cancer growth and therefore should be included in a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables," states Dr. Davis. Walnuts are widely recognized as being heart-healthy and now, this research in prostate cancer along with previous published research from Marshall University reporting that walnuts slow the development and growth of breast cancer tumors in mice, show that walnuts maybe a weapon in the fight against cancer as well.

Lead researcher Dr. Paul Davis believes that their findings are not a result of one isolated component, but due to the multiple ingredients found in walnuts that work together. "Walnuts are a whole food that provides a rich package of healthful substances, including omega-3 fatty acids, gamma tocopherol (a form of vitamin E), polyphenols, and antioxidants. These likely then work synergistically," states Dr. Davis.

Karen Collins, RD a nutrition consultant for American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), suggests these findings offer further support to include plant-based foods, such as walnuts, regularly in the diet. "Nutrition is a key factor in the prevention and treatment of cancer," states Collins. In fact, "it is estimated that we can prevent about 11% of prostate cancer cases in the Unites States. A healthy diet, participating in regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight form a three-part strategy recommended to reduce prostate and other cancers."

According to the National Cancer Institute(2):

Approximately 241,740 estimated new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2012

An estimated 28,170 men will die of prostate cancer in 2012

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men


more from here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-research-suggests-walnuts-may-help-fight-prostate-cancer-2012-01-25

Statins may fight breast cancer

An interesting article relating statins in preventing cancer.  Read on and find out:


The cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins may also help in decreasing the risk of breast cancer and even in treating some types of the disease.


The new findings are based on a lab study conducted on the role of a specific mutation in a tumor suppressor gene called p53 malfunction of which is linked with breast cancer development.

The gene normally controls and regulates the growth of new cells and stops the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells.

More than half of all human cancers carry mutations in the p53 gene, which usually may not affect its normal function. In people with certain types of mutated p53, the cell proliferation control does not function well and leads to erratic and more invasive growth of cancer cells.

In the new study led by Dr. Carol Prives of Columbia University, when the mutant p53 cells were treated in the laboratory with statins, the cells stopped their erratic growth, and even died in some cases.

Researchers suggested that the mutated p53 genes may activate the same pathway that the statins inhibit. The mevalonate pathway has a crucial role in the body's production of cholesterol, says the report published in the journal Cell.

“The study is adding the possibility that there may be classes of breast cancer patients who will respond better to statins than others,” said Prives who emphasized that the study is preliminary and far from a clinical trial.

“By understanding better what sort of cells would respond to statins, one might have a better idea of whether or not to consider using them,” she added. “The next step could be a trial of statins in women with breast cancer who have a mutated copy of the p53 gene.”


more from here http://www.presstv.ir/detail/222474.html